Kligerman Preservers to Finish Seventh at Pocono Raceway

Parker Kligerman, driver of the No. 29 Cooper Standard RAM in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), finished 7th in the Pocono Mountains 125 on Saturday. Kligerman, who now ranks 6th in driver points, managed to stay focused and work his way up through the field after struggling in qualifying.

Kligerman began the 50-lap race from the 17th position after posting a lap of 54.386 seconds, or 165.484 miles per hour, around the two and a half mile triangular race track. Although the truck setup missed in qualifying trim the BKR team was confident that the No. 29 Cooper Standard RAM could move up through the field with Kligerman behind the wheel, despite the brevity of the event. As the green flag flew Kligerman took to the high side of the track and passed three of his competitors before he entered the Long Pond straightaway on the first lap.

By lap number three Kligerman described the truck as tight everywhere around the race track, but still managed to keep pace with the rest of the field. As the fuel reserved dwindled Kligerman voiced that the truck became slightly loose on the entry of turn two, but remained very tight everywhere else.

Crew chief Doug Randolph called the No. 29 to pit road for a scheduled stop on lap 21. The team put on right side tires, took a full load of fuel and made a much needed track bar adjustment in an attempt to loosen the car up on exit of the corners. The Cooper Standard pit crew worked swiftly getting Kligerman out on track in the 13th position.

Lap 30 brought out the first yellow of the afternoon as No. 2 truck blew a tire and careened into the wall. The caution laps created the opportunity conserve fuel and make the 50 lap race a single stop event. Being in 13th position, Kligerman baited the competitors behind him to gage their interest of coming to pit road to top off fuel. As the rear of the field lined up on the apron the No. 29 Cooper Standard RAM dive bombed off the track just before the commitment cone. The BKR crew packed the fuel tank full giving Kligerman the green light to race hard to the finish.

All the competitors raced hard as the laps counted down in the shortest event of the season. Kligerman continued to gain spots on the track moving all the way up into the seventh position by the time the white flag flew. He recorded his seventh top-10 finish of the season and is in close striking distance of the drivers championship leader.

Following Saturday's result, Kligerman and the No. 29 BKR RAM are ranked 6th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver/owner point standings only 35 points behind the leader.

The No. 29 Cooper Standard RAM will visit Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, August 18, for the VFW 200. Live coverage will begin at 12:30 pm ET on SPEED. The race will also be heard on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 90.